How to Get Mustard out of a White Sweater

Blot the mustard off of the sweater with paper towels or a rag immediately after spilling to remove as much of it as possible.

Apply a laundry pre-treatment product or heavy-duty laundry detergent to the mustard stain. After five to 10 minutes of soaking, rinse the stain off with cold water.

Soak the entire white sweater for 15 minutes in a bucket or sink of cold water. Add a color-safe or oxygen bleach, using an appropriate amount of bleach for the amount of water according to the package. Rinse the sweater well.

Use chlorine bleach -- if the sweater is bleach-safe -- to remove any remaining mustard stains. Soak the entire sweater for 15 minutes in a bucket or sink of cold water mixed and add an appropriate amount of chlorine bleach, usually approximately 1/4 cup per gallon of water.

Remove a stubborn mustard stain with a fabric color remover, according to the University of Illinois. Use per label instructions and test in an inconspicuous area of the sweater first to be sure it doesn’t damage or alter the whiteness of the sweater before deciding to proceed.